Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the blood

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is synthesized in the adrenal glands (95%) and in the ovaries (5%), excreted in urine and constitutes the main fraction of 17α-ketosteroids. The determination of its concentration in the blood replaces the study of 17α-ketosteroids of urine. The concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the blood of newborns in the first 3 weeks of life is lowered, in the future it rises from 6 years of age to 13 years, reaching the level of adults. The appearance of typical signs of puberty is preceded by an increase in the activity of the adrenal glands, reflected at the level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. A low concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the blood is detected with a delay in puberty. The opposite phenomenon is observed in premature puberty.

With age, there is a decrease in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione and other metabolites of adrenal androgens. On average, the concentration of androgens in the blood decreases by 3% per year. In the range of 20 to 90 years, the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone in the blood is reduced by 90%. In reproductive endocrinology, the definition of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is used mainly to determine the place of androgen formation. High content of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate testifies to their adrenal origin, low - about their synthesis in the testicles. Reference values of the concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum

Age	Floor	DGEAS
		Mcg / ml	μmol / l
Newborns		1.7-3.6	4.4-9.4
1 month to 5 years	Male	0.01-0.41	0.03-1.1
	Women's	0.05-0.55	0.1-1.5
6-9 years	Male	0.025-1.45	0.07-3.9
	Women's	0.025-1.40	0.07-3.8
10-11 years old	Male	0.15-1.15	0.4-3.1
	Women's	0.15-2.60	0.4-7.0
12-17 years old	Male	0.20-5.55	0.5-15.0
	Women's	0.20-5.55	0.5-15.0
Adults:
18-30 years old	Male	1.26-6.19	3,4-16,7
31-39 years old	Male	1.0-6.0	2.7-16.2
40-49 years	Male	0.9-5.7	2.4-15.4
50-59 years	Male	0.6-4.1	1.6-11.1
60-69 years	Male	0.4-3.2	1.1-8.6
70-79 years	Male	0.3-2.6	0.8-7.0
80-83 years	Male	0.10-2.45	0.27-6.6
18-30 years old	Women's	0.6-4.5	1.62-12.1
31-39 years old	Women's	0.5-4.1	1.35-11.1
40-49 years	Women's	0.4-3.5	1.1-9.4
50-59 years	Women's	0.3-2.7	0.8-7.3
60-69 years	Women's	0.2-1.8	0.5-4.8
70-79 years	Women's	0.1-0.9	0.27-2.4
80-83 years	Women's	<0.1	<0.27
Pregnancy Period	Women's	0.2-1.2	0.5-3.1
Premenopausal period	Women's	0.8-3.9	2.1-10.1
Post-menopausal period	Women's	0.1-0.6	0.32-1.6

Virilizing tumors of the adrenal cortex - androsteromas - produce an excessive amount of androgens. In laboratory studies in these patients, blood levels show significantly increased concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone and excretion of 17-CS with urine.

In postmenopausal women, the development of osteoporosis directly correlates with a low concentration of androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Several studies have shown that a low concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

[1], [2], [3], [4]